kabarsula ATAC marks 40 years of independent travel at Future Focus 2026 bandar SLOT INDONESIA

The Australian Travel Agents Co-operative (ATAC) has wrapped Future Focus 2026, celebrating a milestone 40 years of community, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit.

From September 10 to 13, the milestone event lit up Pier One in Sydney’s Walsh Bay with panel discussions, networking and celebrations.

Looking back over the legacy of the past 40 years, the conference focused firmly on the future of the travel industry, exploring the opportunities and challenges facing independent travel businesses and the role of collaboration in navigating what comes next.

ATAC chairman, Jack Taylor, said the milestone was as significant for members that had been with the co-op for the long haul, as for those who joined as recently as the week prior to the event.

“It shows that the independent movement is alive and strong and that there’s so many folks out there that truly want to be a part of something much bigger than themselves,” Taylor said.

“While they may be scattered throughout Australia, they’re certainly much stronger together.”

The co-op edge

Speaking at the conference opening, ATIA CEO Dean Long highlighted the strength of collective action within the travel industry, particularly when advocating for the interests of travel businesses.

“It is the collective action that allows us to combat these stupid policy decisions the government makes,” he said.

AI was also firmly on the agenda, with sessions exploring how travel professionals can use the technology to complement their expertise rather than compete with it.

Presentations were followed by a Mediterranean-inspired long lunch on the pier, hosted by Intrepid Travel, giving members and partners an opportunity to continue conversations in a more relaxed setting.

The conference also provided plenty of opportunity for members to connect with ATAC’s industry partners, with a partner networking expo on Friday bringing the two groups together before a champagne send-off and Sydney Harbour dinner cruise sponsored by Viking.

For Taylor, the strength of the co-op lies in its distinctive membership model and the entrepreneurial spirit of those who choose to join.

“ATAC is very unique, and a part of that uniqueness, as you said, is that it means we’re not something for everybody,” he said.

“Who we are is for those entrepreneurial, independent travel minds that want to be part of something a little bit bigger than themselves. And the diversity within our membership shows that. It doesn’t mean you have to fit a particular mould, but it certainly means that you need to be capable of being a strong, independent entrepreneur and contributing to something far bigger than yourself.

“We’re really glad to be supporting like-minded folks who thrive and strive on wanting to not just be a member, but be an owner and be the only shareholders within the organisation.”

Celebrating 40 years

For members, Taylor said that the conference offered plenty of takeaways.

“Apart from immense pride around being here as a part of the 40th celebration, right through to obviously how members can better utilise AI to enable greater, stronger, connected customer relationships, as well as the power of the cooperative movement,” said Taylor.

After four decades, Future Focus 2026 offered a reminder that while the travel industry continues to change, ATAC’s central proposition remains much the same: independent businesses are stronger when they work together.